Lia Olguța Vasilescu, mayor of Craiova, was arrested Wednesday by DNA prosecutors.
She is accused of bribery (four offenses) use of her authority or influence to obtain money, goods or other undue advantages (three offenses) and money laundering.
"The documents drafted prosecutors revealed that there was data and evidence that:
During 2012, during the election campaign for mayor of Craiova, several businessmen were candidate determined by Lia Vasilescu Olguţa personally or through persons of the campaign staff, to perform various sponsorships. In order to obtain these benefits, the defendant took advantage of the influence she had on their business, as the vice president of the county organization of a political party.
The "donations" in question, estimated at 135 907 euro, made under the above stated conditions have been materialized in the realization of electoral materials, but also for organizing campaign performances in support of the defendant. The materials have been used by the defendant, knowing that they came from committing the crime of use of authority or influence to obtain money, goods or other undue advantages.
In a different context, in 2014, the defendant Vasilescu Lia Olguţa requested and received from several businessmen, for and through a nonprofit association, as bribe, the total amount of 544 209, 33 lei, taken for having performed her mayor duties and signing different papers.
Specifically, during this period, the defendant Vasilescu Lia Olguţa directly or through intermediaries, has benefitted from the help of other defendants, she asked the businessmen who had ongoing contracts with the Craiova City Hall, to sponsor the association represented by the defendant Popescu Elena Daniela in order to carry out rehabilitation works of the buildings facades in the city of Craiova.
The Businessmen have accepted requests from the defendant Vasilescu Lia Olguţa taking into account her powers as mayor, in order not to be faced with difficulties in the smooth running of contracts, payments and reception of works "the DNA release shows.